Girls volleyball: Seniors lift Hampshire over Jacobs

Hampshire's experience came in handy. Facing set point in the second set, the Whip-Purs rallied for 3 straight points to defeat Jacobs 25-17, 26-24 in Fox Valley Conference action in Hampshire.

Hampshire's senior-laden roster was playing its 10th match of the season while the younger Golden Eagles were playing just their third. So the Whips didn't blink with Jacobs serving for the set at 24-23.

A kill by Grace Vincent tied the set and gave Hampshire the serve. Jacey Lambert went to the stripe and fired an ace, and a kill by Madisyn Reinke clinched it for the Whips.

Riley Seagren, one of the Hampshire seniors, led the attack with 13 kills. Kielee Tondryk added 4 for the Whip-Purs (8-1-1, 2-1 FVC).

Sam Rossetti had 25 assists, and libero Isabella Sobota led the defense with 15 digs.

"We are trying to put it together," said Hampshire coach Ramon Borrero.

Whether it was pounding it down or tipping it over, Seagren did it all for Hampshire.

"She's a very athletic player," Borrero said. "She jumps very high and that allows her to make so many decisions in the air. She has a great attitude."

The Eagles battled throughout the second set which saw 14 ties and in which neither team led by more than 3 points.

Maggie Wallenberger's 6 kills led the way for Jacobs (1-2). Jaclyn Poiner and Taishnayilesdi Ramirez added 4 apiece. Setter Rachel Kaczorowski contributed 15 assists, while Kaczorowski and Jordyn Kelly each had 8 digs.

"Experience is part of it," said Jacobs coach Lisa Dwyer. "Sometimes there's 1 senior out there. "We've got a lot of young kids. They're fighting hard, they care, it's just sometimes that experience comes through."

Jacobs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. Hampshire took the lead with an 8-2 run midway through the set. A big hit by Seagren made it 20-14 and the Eagles never caught up.